134 THOUGHTS ON HUNTING 



them very thick round the warren ; for the warren- 

 hares will be unwilling to leave it, and, when dis- 

 turbed by dogs, will immediately go in. 



If you turn them out before greyhounds, you 

 cannot give them too much law ; if before hounds, 

 you cannot give them too little ; for reasons which I 

 will presently add. Though hares, as I told you 

 before, never run so well before hounds, as when they 

 do not know where they are ; yet, before greyhounds, 

 it is the reverse : and your trap-hares, to run well, 

 should always be turned out within their knowledge : 

 they are naturally timid ; and are easily disheartened, 

 when they have no point to make to for safety. 



If you turn out any before your hounds (which, if 

 it be not your wish, I shall by no means recommend), 

 give them not much time, but lay on your hounds as 

 soon as they are out of view : if you do not, they will 

 be likely to stop, which is oftentimes fatal. Views 

 are at all times to be avoided, but particularly with 

 trap-hares ; for, as these know not where they are, 

 the hounds have too great an advantage over them. 

 It is best to turn them down the wind : they hear the 

 hounds better, and seldom turn again. Hounds for 

 this business should not be too fleet. These hares 

 run straight, and make no doubles : they leave a 

 strong scent, and have other objections, in common 

 with animals turned out before hounds : they may 

 give you a gallop ; they will, however, show but little 

 hunting. The hounds are to be hunted like a pack 

 of fox-hounds, as a trap-hare runs very much in the 

 same manner, and will even top the hedges. What I 



